The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-07-07
COLO OR GRIPEs IN HORSES.

In a great many stables horses
are subject to frequent attacks
of collie or gripes, indicated by
paving and rolling or attempts to
do SO in the stall. One very common
cause-I may say the most frequent
is overlooking. Animals that r
over-fed r certain sooner or later to
become the subject of indigestion, Of
which collie is but a manifestation.
Horses that are once affected with
pain in the abdomen or belly are much
more liable to subsequent attacks.
To say exactly how much food should
be given would be absurd, as that de-
ponds upon the individual horse and
the amount and kind of work he has
to perform. Occasionally l go into
stables where hores leave their grain;
in such establishments they are over.
fed, and to this may be attributed
cases of indigestion. Not long since
I made a post-mortem examination
upon a horse that had for a long time
been subject to attacks of indigestion,
and his liver was nearly white in color
and extremely soft in consistence, and
altogether it was very evident that it
was in such a condition az not to have
been capable of secreting bile; and as
this secretion is purgative in its nature,
in all probability the lack of it in the
bowels produced the obstinate consti-
patton from which the horse ultimate
ly died. The walls of the stomach
were also very thin, due to repeated
over-distention. Horses often die from
rupture Of this organ, induced by these
matters of which | write. 1t is, with
my people, customary to give as much
hay to horses as they will eat, and
there are often instances of g%luttons
among these animals as with men. La
several well-conducted stables, an av-e
erage sized horse is allowed IA pounds
of hay per day, and the same animal
will be fit TO" a good days work if he
gets about II quarts of oats in the
same length O ftime. 1t swell known
among horsemen and practical veter-
mary surgeons that food given in ex-
cess of this often produce indigestion.
In a state of nature such treatment is
unnecessary, but considering that the
horse is in an extremely artificial con
dition, it is important that he should
be by the same means protected.
And there are men who put their
horses to hard work Immediately after
having eaten a very hearty meal.
Allowing horses to drink too much
water at one time is often a cause of
collie. at is better to water horses
five or six times a day, and SO to avoid
extreme distention of the stomach and
its bad consequences. When some
Individual horse shows a tendency to
be frequently attacked with collie, it is
advisable to give him a dose Of purga-
tive medicine, and after he is put upon
his regular diet, to give him a table
of powdered charcoal in his
feed, three times a day. This tends
to prevent fermentation in the stomach,
and its use may be kept up until such
time as the tendency to collie has sub
sided."-Breeders' Gazette, England.
I have found by practical experience
that horses subject to frequent attacks
of indigestion are much benefited by
being turned out to Craze for a season.
The digestive system is allowed to re-
cover itself by a return to natural con-
ditions.-RoBERT j.. DAWSON, Veter-
mary Surgeon, in Pacific Rural Press.
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